Pages

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

FAAN New Food Allergy Camp for Children

As most of you know Andrew suffers from severe food allergies and is allergic to 90% of all foods. He has suffered from many severe anaphylaxis attacks. He also has the most severe type of allergies called Eosinophilic Esophagitis, where the food allergies are causing reactions in his esophagus. (causing pain in his throat & trouble swallowing) We make all his food from scratch!

As he is getting older he has been having a tough time fitting in at school. All school parties and celebrations are centered around food, and Andrew struggles with it everyday.

Andrew is part of a great organization call FAAN. He actually raised over $1,000 last year and participated in a food allergy walk to raise funds for research. We were so excited to find out that they are going to start a summer camp for children like Andrew!! The closest one to us is San Francisco, but we will make sure and vacation in San Francisco that week so he can attend. Andrew has never been able to attend summer camps in the past and he is so excited about this new opportunity!

It is going to be called Camp TAG, a 5-day, half-day camp for ages 3-12 that will launch in summer 2011. It will provide a safe place for children with food allergies and their siblings to have fun with no worries about having an allergic reaction, as well as give them an opportunity to meet other children who share the same conditions and know they are not alone!

FAAN is currently in the running for a $250,000 grant for from the Pepsi Refresh Project. Please show your support by visiting www.refresheverything.com/camptag and voting for Camp TAG today! Plan to vote for FAAN’s Camp TAG idea once a day for the month of October, and encourage everyone in your personal network to do the same. They are currently ranked 26 and they need your help!

Camp TAG will provide community outreach and educational opportunities for children with food allergies, their siblings, and parents. It will be 95% fun and 5% educational with age-appropriate activities and games each day on food allergies, anaphylaxis, nutrition, the emotional impact that food allergies have on the child and family, and how to stay safe at school and at home. An educational curriculum is being designed and will be reviewed by FAAN’s Medical Advisory Board.